Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 Opinions

alpharius

alpharius

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I got to shoot my buddy's Vortex 1-8 today and I was very impressed with it. I have 0 experience with LPVOs. I don't really know what's good and what needs improvement. I'm curious what other's think of this scope. Am I just an LPVO newbie and this one is trash or what?
 
Man I hate to sound like a dooshy snob, but I’m a dooshy snob and don’t like it at all.
Fred is on point: Of you like the SE, try a Razor and you’ll be blown away.
For not much more than a SE, you can get the Viper PST 1-6 which destroys the SE in every way.

If you want an inexpensive option, look at the Burris RT6. All that said, LPVO’s are neat and if you like the SE, by all means try it out.
 
Strike Eagle = Chinese, economic scope, Ford Fiesta
PST = Philippines, mid-level, Honda Accord
Razor = Japanese (I think), high-end, Lexus

I hade a SE, it was very good for the money. I have a PST which is excellent. The Razor is top-shelf, but I don't shoot nearly enough to justify.

Per @NKD , the Burris is supposed to be best in its class/price. I've no experience, but people who have them really like them.
 
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So we’re does the Sig Tango stand?

I put one on my rifle last year and like it. I guess I’ll speak for the budget friendly crowd.
 
Chuckman said:
That's a good question. I know precisely zip about Sig optics, I'd like to know more.
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Lifetime warranty on the optic. Lesser (maybe 5 year???) on the electronics. The scope works without turning on the illuminated reticle. But when it’s on and the scope is at 1x power, it acts like a red dot. That’s why I like it.

It’s a second focal plane so that automatically bumps it to a lesser tier. But it comes with a cantilever mount and has held a zero for the handful of times I’ve taken it for a spin.

I assume this is true for all of the LPVO’s: it’s bigger than you think. I was used to an AimPoint M2, so my visual scale was off.

When I’m not rappelling from Blackhawk helicopters or assaulting an Arabian prince’s yacht, the Sig Tango fits my bill.
 
I don’t think SFP is lesser tier, it’s just different. I get that FFP means the BDC or stadia work at all magnifications, but on a LPVO, are you really going to holdover at anything less than your maximum magnification? Maybe…

Not to mention, at 1x, or lower magnifications in general, your reticle is now tiny and harder to see.

I prefer SFP for a LPVO.
 
9outof10mms said:
Lifetime warranty on the optic. Lesser (maybe 5 year???) on the electronics. The scope works without turning on the illuminated reticle. But when it’s on and the scope is at 1x power, it acts like a red dot. That’s why I like it.

It’s a second focal plane so that automatically bumps it to a lesser tier. But it comes with a cantilever mount and has held a zero for the handful of times I’ve taken it for a spin.

I assume this is true for all of the LPVO’s: it’s bigger than you think. I was used to an AimPoint M2, so my visual scale was off.

When I’m not rappelling from Blackhawk helicopters or assaulting an Arabian prince’s yacht, the Sig Tango fits my bill.
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I don't get indigestion over SFP/FFP. It's a training thing, not necessarily a performance thing, and depends on what you're doing with the optic. There are SFP optics that are $1,500 or more.

I also dig the red dot at 1x.
 
Yeah I guess I’d just like to have the reticle remain the same. But as already mentioned, I won’t be/shouldn’t be reaching out far enough with a 556 to really need that much BDC. From 0-200/300 yards it’s in the dead guy ring.
 
I like FFP as well for 1-4 and 1-6.

For something like a 1-10 I'd consider FFP, as it is a little more leaning to precision.
 
9outof10mms said:
Yeah I guess I’d just like to have the reticle remain the same. But as already mentioned, I won’t be/shouldn’t be reaching out far enough with a 556 to really need that much BDC. From 0-200/300 yards it’s in the dead guy ring.
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We shot at 100 yards. The first tick-mark was just below the center and that was for 300 yards. Heck, you could have used the first tick mark at 100 and basically be hitting it the same place. I just can't imagine shooting at 400, 500, or 600, but the thing has tick-marks for those as well.
 
EuroOptic has a PST II 1-6x like new demo for the same price as a 1-8x Strike Eagle

Any issues with it and Vortex will outright replace it with a new one. I’d go that route all day

www.eurooptic.com

Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6x24 VMR-2 MRAD Like New Demo Scope PST-1607

Like New Demo Vortex Viper PST Gen II 1-6x24 at Eurooptic.com. Vortex Viper PST riflescope offers top-tier performance in a riflescope designed and built to the standards precision tactical shooters request. Shop Vortex rifle Scope online. SHIPS FREE!
www.eurooptic.com www.eurooptic.com
 
You can buy a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 LPVO WITH Vortex Cantilever mount most days at PSA for $300. ($500-$200 discount code). I bought one and am happy with it for plinking. For a budget LPVO....
 
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Weaklink said:
You can buy a Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 LPVO WITH Vortex Cantilever mount most days at PSA for $300. ($500-$200 discount code). I bought one and am happy with it for plinking. For a budget LPVO....
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BUDGET?! You imply that Vortex is not good. How the heck expensive does something need to be before it makes it out of the “budget” category?!
 
9outof10mms said:
BUDGET?! You imply that Vortex is not good. How the heck expensive does something need to be before it makes it out of the “budget” category?!
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In all fairness, the Strike Eagle line is Vortex’s low end budget line. Chinese made.

Higher end offering made in Japan and and US with mid level stuff produced in the Philippines

opticsforce.com

Where Are Vortex Scopes Made

Vortex scopes are considered the industry standard due to their incredible durability and quality. But where are Vortex scopes actually made?
opticsforce.com opticsforce.com
 
I want to try one of these:

us.hawkeoptics.com

Vantage IR 1-4x20 Turkey Dot

An extensive range of scopes to suit all calibres and disciplines. All Vantage riflescopes feature our H2 optics in a variety of configurations. IR models feature precision glass etched reticles with multi-stage illumination in both red and green.. . Capped Low-Profile Turrets. 1 Inch Mono-Tube...
us.hawkeoptics.com us.hawkeoptics.com
 
$240 for that Vantage, then add rings, and it's still a 1-4 power. For ~$50 more, I would lean towards the 1-8 Strike Eagle. A buddy of mine has a 1-4x on one of his guns; I did not like the lack of magnification.
 
The SE is the first lpvo I bought to dip my toe into that world. After purchasing a few different scopes in diffeeent price ranges I’ve settled on the 1-6 Viper PST scoped ar15. Really good glass, a clean reticle with a daylight bright dot, not the lightest but not the heaviest either. You can find them used for less that $500.
 
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Weaklink said:
$240 for that Vantage, then add rings, and it's still a 1-4 power. For ~$50 more, I would lean towards the 1-8 Strike Eagle. A buddy of mine has a 1-4x on one of his guns; I did not like the lack of magnification.
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Yeah a 4x is darn near like normal vision a lot of times. I know that doesn’t make sense, but that’s what it looks like.
 
Weaklink said:
$240 for that Vantage, then add rings, and it's still a 1-4 power. For ~$50 more, I would lean towards the 1-8 Strike Eagle. A buddy of mine has a 1-4x on one of his guns; I did not like the lack of magnification.
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Agreed.

The LVPO attributes I was considering on this partcular optic are the reticle (primary interest), the eye relief (4"), and size/weight (under 9" long and less than 12 ozs.).
Use-case is for a 300BO suppressed AR pistol build and ranges 75-300 ft.

It's not currently an available product, in any case.
 
I had a SE 1-8 a few years ago. Honestly, it was a good deal for what it was. I believe the mount and scope all in were around $300. My biggest complaint was the eye box at 8x. The fisheye at 1x was a thing.

I have moved onto the Gen 1 PST 1-4 and it is better all around. 1x is much better. The eye box is far better, but half the magnification so not apples to apples. These can be had for $289 with no mount at Eurooptic. I grabbed a nice Warner mount for 80 bucks or so.

I will likely move the Gen 1 to my AK and put a Gen 2 PST 1-6 on the AR, but I’m in no rush. I make it a poin to remind myself that gear is important but can’t replace practice and training in regards to effectiveness. You can’t buy a better golf game.
 
Weaklink said:
$240 for that Vantage, then add rings, and it's still a 1-4 power. For ~$50 more, I would lean towards the 1-8 Strike Eagle. A buddy of mine has a 1-4x on one of his guns; I did not like the lack of magnification.
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mostly22lately said:
Agreed.

The LVPO attributes I was considering on this partcular optic are the reticle (primary interest), the eye relief (4"), and size/weight (under 9" long and less than 12 ozs.).
Use-case is for a 300BO suppressed AR pistol build and ranges 75-300 ft.

It's not currently an available product, in any case.
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I rather have a quality 1x4 than a cheap 1x8. I think a lot of people have unreasonable expectations for LVPOs.

Remember, these are not precision rigs and are designed to be more minute of man or steel. They are a combination of the fast reticle of a red dot for up close and some magnification to give you fast yet more accurate at longer distances than a red dot.

The majority of the rifles and ammo combinations people put LPVOs on are only capable of minute of man anyway.

For a new user starting off with a cheap LPVO of any magnification has the possibility of turning them against a great product. Poor glass, eye box, and etc can really give some one the wrong impression of their capabilities.
 
I own the Viper 1-6x32. I like it. It's very clear and it does what I want it to do...

But, I just can't get the eye relief just right. No matter where I put my cheek, I always have to wiggle my face back and forth an inch or so to get optimal sight picture, and even then it doesn't exactly "fill up" the eye piece like my other scopes do. I like it, but I don't love it...

But, also, I'm not a scope aficionado. I've never had formal training with scopes. I'm just a guy that shoots deer up to 100ish yards away.
 
Alabamacoastie said:
I own the Viper 1-6x32. I like it. It's very clear and it does what I want it to do...

But, I just can't get the eye relief just right. No matter where I put my cheek, I always have to wiggle my face back and forth an inch or so to get optimal sight picture, and even then it doesn't exactly "fill up" the eye piece like my other scopes do. I like it, but I don't love it...

But, also, I'm not a scope aficionado. I've never had formal training with scopes. I'm just a guy that shoots deer up to 100ish yards away.
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I'm having the same issue. I'm trying to figure out if my ear pro is in the way or what.
 
At the Strike Eagle's price point I'd rather have an Athlon or the Burris RT-6. Maybe the Vortex PST 1-6. SE has been one of the consistently worst-performing LPVOs I've seen in courses. It can't dial for beans and the BDC is only just barely usable. Glass clarity and light transmission are not very good and you'll find yourself struggling to get positive ID on targets that aren't brightly painted at 300+ yards. IMO you're better served with the others if that's all you can justify spending (which I would totally understand).

I also second getting the Razor if you can justify it. The 1-6 routinely goes on sale at the $1000 mark and is well worth having.
 
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alpharius said:
Can anyone explain what the

You mean a 1-4 set at 1x is like normal? Or that a 1-4 set at 4x is like normal?
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I’ve never used a 1-4x. But a fixed 4x or even a 4-9x scope always seems to not live up to advertised 4x. It’s a little gimmick I do when I’m behind a scope: look through the scope and look around it. See if the scope is actually helping anything. 4x doesn’t seem to do much of anything.
 
9outof10mms said:
I’ve never used a 1-4x. But a fixed 4x or even a 4-9x scope always seems to not live up to advertised 4x. It’s a little gimmick I do when I’m behind a scope: look through the scope and look around it. See if the scope is actually helping anything. 4x doesn’t seem to do much of anything.
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Maybe you eyes just suck? We’re all different that way.
 
9outof10mms said:
I’ve never used a 1-4x. But a fixed 4x or even a 4-9x scope always seems to not live up to advertised 4x. It’s a little gimmick I do when I’m behind a scope: look through the scope and look around it. See if the scope is actually helping anything. 4x doesn’t seem to do much of anything.
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I'm not sure what you mean. I have a cheapo 4-12 and 4x seems fine. It definitely helps with medium distance targets.
 
Prolly just me and my crappy eyes looking through my cheap-o scopes!
 
The AR Optics 1-6x is another good budget option. Reviews say it blows away the vortex se in brightness and clarity. There is a 1-8 also, but there is slight distortion around the edges not present in the 1-6. Includes throw lever and "Off" clicks between each illumination setting, both very handy and not typically seen on low end LPVOs.
 
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